Music-leaf turner



Feb. 1921.

H. STEVENS MUSIC LEAF TURNER Filed Dec. 12, 1924 2 Sheetg-Sheet 1 Jul - 1,617,185 Feb. a v H. STEVENS MUS IC LEAF TURNER Filed Dec. 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 1927;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

"HARRY STEVENS, OF BANGOR, MAINE.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

Application filed December 12, 1924. Serial No. 755,528.

This invention relates to improvements in music leafturners and has for its principaI objeGt to provide a simple and efficient means whereby the person playing the piano may easily and eiliciently turn the sheetspf the music being played without necessitatingthe reniovalofthe hands from the keys of the piano, the device being adapted tokbecontro led by a suitable foot pedal.

" One of the important objects of the invention is to provide a music leaf turner V of the above'nientioned character wherein means is provided for turning one sheet of music at atime, means being further provided for returning the sheets to their original position after the'same have all been'played.

A further object of the invention is to providea music: leaf turner of the above mentionedi'character, which is simple in constructi'on, inexpensive,- strong and durable and furthermore adapted for the purposes for which it is designated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

I In the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the arms with the sheet en gaging clamps associated therewith and the casingsecur'e'd' onthe front of a piano.

'Fi'gure '2 is a rear elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the foot'lever and the co-related parts I associated therewith.

' of the arms;

7 Figure 7 is a sectional viewtaken approximately on line 7 7' of- Figure 6.

Figure8 is a front elevation of the sheet music engaging means;

Figure 9" is a sectional view taken approximately on line 9.9 of Figure 8, and

' Fig 10"is a detail section taken substan-- 'tially' on the line 1O1OVof Fig. 6.

Bl the drawings; wherein for the purpose v.off illustration is shown the referred embodiment of my invention, tie numeral 1' designates a. casing which is secured on the front of a piano A by any suitable fastening means. Extending vertically within the casing 1 is a rotatable shaft-2. The same is journaled in suitable bearings as is clearly illustrated in Figure 6. The lower end of the shaft 2 is threaded as illustrated at 3 and the purpose thereof will hereinafter be more fully described.

A pinion 4 is fixed on the shaft 2 adjacent the upper end thereof and the same engages a suitable pinion 5 which is supported on the forward. end of a shaft 6 wh ch extends transversely through the front of the piano and through the casing, The rear end. of the shaft 6 is journaled ina suitable bracket 7 secured on the rear face of; the front of the piano.

A pinion 8 is keyed on the rear end of the shaft 6 and cooperating therewith is the segmental gear member 9 which is pivotally supported on the lower portion of the bracket 7 as. at 10. The segmental gear member 9 is operable through, the medium of an elongated rod 11 which extends across the rear face of the front of the piano, the same being secured at. one end to the segmental gear member 9' and. at its. opposite end to the ends of the arm 12' of abell cranklever 13 as at 14. The bell crank lever 13 is pivotally supported on the rear face of the front of the piano as at 15 and the other arm 16 is adapted for vertical movement through a suitable guide member 17.

A foot lever 18 extjendsthrough a suitable opening 19 provided in the bottom of the front of the piano and is pivotally supported intermediate its ends as at 20 on the bracket 21 which also extends through the opening 19. The outer end of the foot lever 18 is provided with a treadle 22-and the inner end of the lever is pivotally connected to the lower end of a vertically extendin rod 23 as illustrated at 24. A flat metal bar 25 is pivotally supported intermediate its ends in the upper bifurcated or forked end- 26 of a vertically extending supporting standard 27. One en'dof the flat bar 25- is operative-1y connected to the upper end of the rod 2 3 as indicated: generally at 28 while the other end of the flat bar 25 is connected to the lower end of a vertically extending rod 29 preferably in the form of a piece of wire. The upper end of the wire rod. 29 is bent around the lower end of an additional vertically extendi rod $0 and engages'the nut; f-ll which is threzu'ltnl on the lower threaded end of the rod 3-5). he upper end of the rod 30 is connected to the end of the arm 16 of the bell. crank 13 through the medium of a ball and socket joint 32. A coil spring, 38 is associated with the segmental gear member 9 for normally holding the same in the position shown in Figure 2 and whereby the co-related parts are also held in their normal. po sitions.

A pair of horizontally extending arms 3% and 35 are provided on their inner ends with the sleeves or hubs 36 and 3'? respectively, the same being: adapted to be disposed on the lower portion of the shaft 2 whereby the arms are adapted for swinging movement thereon. The outer end of each arm carries thereon a sheet or leaf clamping member designated generally by the numeral and the same comprises a plate 39 which is pern'ianently secured to the outer end of each arm, aclampinp; plate 40 being pivetally supported on the plate 30 and held in cooperative relation therewith by means of the sprint! ll. A rubber head 42 is associated with the back of each plate whereby the same is prevented from coming in contact with the front of the piano. .he'manner in which the sheet clamping members are associated with the sheets of music is clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

The upper portion of the hub 36 is provided with a cut out portion 4-3 and the lower portion of the hub 37 which is disposed above the hub 36 is also provided with a similar cut out portion 44. These cut out portions are furthermore arranged diametrically opposite each other as is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 and the purpose thereof will hereinafter be more fully described. A pin 45 extending laterally from the shaft 2 adjacent the lower threaded end 3 thereof is adapted to cooperate with the out out portions 43 and 4L4; of the sleeves or hubs 36 and 37 respectively, whereby the arms 34 and 35 are adapted for swinging movement in the manner to be presently described.

The shaft 2 is further adapted for vertical movement within the casing l, and to this end, I provide a plate 46 on. the bottom of the bearing bracket for the lower end of the shaft, the plate 4 6 having one end thereof in engagement with the threaded portion 3 of the shaft and it is obvious that when the shaft is rotated, the plate 46 will engage the threaded portion 3 of the shaft and cause the shaft to move vertically.

The operation of my improved music leaf turner maybe briefly stated as follows: Normally the arms 34 and 35 are disposed in the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the sheet engaging clamps associated with the outer ends of the arms being attached to successive sheets of music placed on the front of the piano and to further support the sheets of music, a spring: clip e13 is provided. il hcn it is desired to turn the sheet which is attached to the outer ends of the arms 34-, so that the reverse side of the sheet may be played, the foot lever 18 is depressed by stepping on the treadle 22 causing the inner end of the foot lever to move upwardly and engage the lowermost notch formed in the innor end of the bracket 21 as illustrated at 47. The inner end of the foot lever l8'moving upwardly will cause a pivotal swinging movement of the segmental gear member 1) the c rection of the arrows for substanone half the distance of the gear teeth of the segmental gear member 9 and this will cause the rotation of the shaft 6 tl'n'oug'h lllr medium of the pinions land 5, the shaft vill be rotated and the plate 46 cooperating with the threaded end 3 of the shaft will raise the latter. The pin 4-5 carried by the shaft 2 wiil in the firstinstance be in en g; nt with the cut out portion 43 of the 1nd 36 whereby the arm 34; will swing in a horizontal plane and cause the sheet which attached to the clamping member carried by the outer end of the arm 34 to be turned over. By depressing the foot lever further so that the inner portion of the foot lever is moved upwardly another notch, the segmental gear member is caused to travel the other half of its entire distance causing the shaft 6 to rotate and simultaneously rotating the shaft 2. Simultaneously, the shaft is raised v rtically by means of the threaded portion and the plate 4:6 whereby the pin 45 will be raised out of engagement with the cut out portion 4.3 of the sleeve 36 and moved into engagement with the cut out portion 4A- of the sleeve, or hub 37 and thereby enable the arm 35 to he swung in a horizontal plane so that the sheet which is attached to the clamp ing member 38 associated with the outer end of the arm will be turned over. The purpose of the ratchet teeth .47 is to hold the foot lever in the desired adjusted position asto prevent the accidental return of the arms to their normal position. By disengaging the foot.- levor 18 from the ratchet teeth 47, the spring; 33 will return the se;: mental ejear member 9 to its normal position and simultai'leously cause the arms 34. {UK 35 to be successively returned to their normal positions.

lhe provision of a music leaf turner of the above mentioned character. will obviate the necessity of the person playing the piano having to remove their hands from the keys of the piano in order to turn the sheets of the music whenever it becomes necessary. It will only 3e necessary to step on the treadlc 22 of the foot lever 18 when it is desired to turn over one of the sheets of the piece of music being played. Furthermore, the parts of my improved music leaf turner are so ar ranged as not to affect the appearance of the piano and may be easily and efficiently secured in position on a piano.

Vhile I have shown the preferredeinbodi- 'ment ofiny invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended. claims.

Having thus described the invention, What ICltIlHl is 1, A music leaf turner comprising a rotatably mounted shaft, a pair of superposed arms having hub portions on the shaft and provided with diametrically opposed notches When the arms extend in the same direction, threads formed on one end of the shaft, a stationary feed member engaging said threads, a pin extending laterally from the shaft and adapted to engage the notch in the hub of one arm when the shaft is lowof the axis of the second pinion upon rotation of said pinions because of the threads engaging the feed member, a second shaft on which the second pinion is fixed, a third pinion on the second shaft, a rockable gear segment in mesh with the third pinion, and means for rocking said gear segment.

2. A music leaf turner comprising a rotatably mounted shaft, a pair of superposed arms having hub portions on the shaft and provided with diametrically opposed notches when the arms extend in the same direction, threads formed on one end of the shaft, a stationary feed member engaging said. threads, a pin extending laterally from the shaft and adapted to engage the notch in the hub of one arm when the shaft is lowerred so that When the shaft is rotated at half turn, said pin will engage in the notch of the hub of the other arm, a pinion keyed on the shaft adjacent the other end, a pinion having a plurality of teeth for engagement with the first mentioned pinion'whereby said first mentioned pinion may slide transversely of the axis of the second pinion upon rotation of said pinions because of the threads engaging the feed member, a second shaft on which the second pinion is fixed, a third pinion on the second shaft, a rockable gear segment in mesh with the third pinion, a link engaged with the gear segment, a rockable mounted bell crank engaged with the link, and means for rocking the bell crank.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY STEVENS 

